Condensation trap



Filed April 6, 1953 David R Handwerk INVENTOR.

United States PatehtO CONDENSATION TRAP David'vPrHandwerk, Allentown, Pa. .Application.April'.6,.1953, SerialNo. 346,905-

3- (L'laims. (Cl. 251-157) My invention relates to improvements in condensation .trapsior' steam distribution systemsand the like.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a condensation trap embodying a float controlled'valve which is quicker acting in closing than float controlled valves of conventional steam traps.

Another object is to provide for a greater capacity of such traps with a given size of trap chamber and using the same type of float and float arm as conventional traps.

Still another object is to provide for less interference by floating dirt with closing of the valve and consequently for longer life of the valve seat.

Still another object is to provide for snap action final closing of the valve under suction of the discharge to accomplish quicker closing of the valve.

Still another object is to provide a trap for the purposes above set forth which is comparatively simple in construction and adapted for low cost manufacture.

Other and subordinate objects together with the precise nature of my improvements will become readily apparent when the following description and claims are read with reference to the drawing accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawing:

Figure l is a view in vertical section, partly in side elevation of my improved condensation trap in the preferred embodiment thereof;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken on the line 44 of Figure 2 and illustrating the operation of the valve in full and broken lines.

Referring to the drawing by numerals my improved trap comprises a trap chamber 1 of generally elongated rec tangular shape open at its front and closed by a vertical closure plate 3 bolted as at 5, to lateral lugs 7 on the chamber, with a suitable gasket 9 between said chamber 1 and plate 3. An inlet opening 11 is tapped in the closure plate 3 adjacent the top of the chamber 1 and a discharge opening 13 in said plate adjacent the bottom of said chamber. The chamber 1 is provided with a baflle 15 in its top portion adjacent to and opposite the inlet opening 11 for the usual purpose and with top and bottom vent and clean out plugs 17, 19. The chamber 1 is adapted to be fixed in horizontal position in a steam distribution system, not shown, by an inlet pipe, not shown, connected to the opening 11. The discharge opening 13 is adapted for connection thereto of a discharge pipe, not shown.

A hollow casting 21 with an open front end 23 and a closed rear end 25 and which forms a condensation discharge nozzle is bolted, as at 27, through side lugs 29 thereon to the front plate 3 with its front end 23 in communication with the discharge opening 13 and to extend horizontally rearwardly into said chamber 1 with a gasket 31 between said end 23 and plate 3.

A float arm 33 has a forked front end 35 pivoted as at 2,737,364 Patented Man. 19560 endpivoted, asat 47,10 the rearlend 48 ofavalvefopeuing and closing rocker arm .51 below --a valvezseat 52 formed by .an'inverted T-shapedfitting-SSthreaded upwardly-into the bottomtof the tasting 121.

The rocker -51 has suitabl-yvfixed on itszfront end a ball lvalye-member- :55 "adapted .tozengage and-disengage -said seat-52 and the-rear rend 48 1015 saidarm .51. isfibifurcated to straddle the lower end of the linki43; The rocker arm 51 issuspended, between; its-ends, byna hanger bracket .61 surroundinggthe fitting 53randxclamped thereby, and bythe-casting .21; betweenaapair of gaskets.:63, 65, and is pmvidedwith: 1a .bifurcatedtyertical rear end .67 between said fitting and the link 43 terminating below the valve seat 52 a pair of upturned fulcrum hooks 69. The rocker arm 51 works vertically in the bifurcated end 67. A pair of vertical curved edge side wings 71 on opposite sides of the rocker arm 51 are adapted to engage a pair of lugs 73 on opposite sides of the fitting 53 and upon opposite sides of the seat 52. A pair of crosspins on the rocker arm 51 at the front and rear of the rear end of the bracket 61 provide for guided vertical sliding movement of the rocker arm 51 on said rear end 67 and vertical rocking of said arm 49 relative to said rear end 67.

The rocker arm 51, fitting 53, ball valve member 55 and float arm 33 and bracket 61 form a float controlled valve operating as follows:

The valve is adapted to be closed with the water level 77 in the chamber 1 at the normal level of the top of the fitting 53 as shown in Figure 1 so that the valve is below said level as well as above the bottom of the chamber 1 and hence floating dirt and dirt settled on said bottom will not foul the valve, especially the seat 52 and ball valve member 55, and when said valve is closed the rocker arm 51 rests on the hooks 69 the wings engage upwardly against the lugs 73 and the ball valve member seats upwardly in the seat 52 as shown in full lines in Figure 1 and in dotted lines in Figure 4.

When the float 41 is raised by rising of the water 77, the rocker arm 51 is first rocked counter-clockwise on the wings 73 to lower the ball valve member 55 unseat the same and open the valve as shown in full lines in Figure 4, and then pulled bodily up the rear end 67 oil the books 69 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. Thus upward movement bodily of the rocker arm 51 compensates for movement of the float 41 into the top portion of the chamber 1 so that substantially the entire chamber 1 may be filled while the rocker arm 51 and valve member are moved idly.

Upon descent of the float 41 the valve rocker 51 first slides downwardly on said end 67 and, as the water level nears normal the rocker arm 51 fulcrums clockwise on the hooks 69 to move the ball valve member toward the seat 52. As said member 55 restricts the orifice at the valve seat 52 to almost closed condition the pressure in the fitting 53 decreases as compared with that below said member so that the pressure below said member 55 overcomes the weight of the member and that of the rocker arm 57 and seats said member 55 with a snap action to close the valve. The wings 71 during initial counterclockwiserocking of the rocker arm 51 rock against the lugs 73 to provide for mechanical advantage in opening the valve and reduce opposition to upward movement of the float 41.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suifice to impart a clear understanding of my invention.

Manifestly modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the inventive concept and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use in a condensation chamber having therein a horizontal condensation outlet nozzle, a valve seat and condensation discharge member threaded upwardly into said nozzle, and a vertically rockable float lever on said nozzle, valve means comprising a hanger bracket attachable to said member and having a bifurcated vertical end adapted to depend below said member and terminating in upturned hooks, a rocker arm below said seat having a valve ball on one end and a pivot intermediate its ends normally seating in said hooks under the weight of said ball and rocker arm for rocking of said arm on said hooks in opposite directions to engage the valve ball with said seat and disengage the same from said seat respectively, a link pivoted to the other end of said rocker arm and attachable to said lever for transmitting rocking movement of said lever to said rocker arm, said pivot being vertically movable and said arm being vertically slidable in said bifurcated end for upward displacement of said arm bodily to engage said valve ball with said seat by pressure in said chamber sufiicient to overcome the weight of said ball and rocker arm.

2. Valve means according to claim 1, and a transverse pin on said rocker am, said pivot and pin traversing opposite sides of said bifurcated vertical end to guide said rocker arm during displacement of said rocker arm vertically.

3. Valve means according to claim 1 and upstanding wings on opposite sides of said rocker arm engageable with said member by upward displacement of said rocker arm bodily, said arm being rockable on said wings against said member by said link in the displaced position of said arm by upward movement of said lever whereby to disengage said valve ball.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 990,735 Hefiernan Apr. 25, 1911 2,620,829 Holley Dec. 9, 1952 2,637,335 Goff May 5, 1953 

